54 Chapter 54
"Good evening," I said as the man moved away from Dr. Grey, coming close enough for me to introduce myself and, if possible, ask some questions about the procedure bearing her name.
"Ah, finally, I want a Manhattan without cherries," Dr. Grey ordered, looking at me for just a few seconds, surely mistaking me for one of the waiters working tonight.
"Oh no—" I tried to explain the misunderstanding, but with disbelief on her face, the woman interrupted me.
"No?" she asked, seeming offended. "Do you even know who I am?" she asked, furrowing her brow seriously.
"But look who's here, Ellis Grey," before I could respond to the oddly agitated woman, someone else interrupted.
"Aaron," Dr. Grey smiled forcedly, greeting the newcomer.
"PJ, good to see you again," the man happily said.
"Doctor Glassman," I greeted the man once again. He was one of the many people Dr. Thomas had introduced me to, another of his 'protégés,' a neurosurgeon.
"Do you two know each other?" still focusing her attention on Dr. Glassman, Dr. Grey asked, giving me another quick glance, studying my face.
"Of course, PJ Duncan, as I'm sure you know, since obviously you allowed him to introduce himself," Dr. Glassman said ironically, smiling. "He's a guest of Dr. Thomas, if you read the article, you'll surely remember his name in the acknowledgments, from Texas Tech," raising one of his eyebrows, Dr. Glassman continued.
"Of course," apparently recognizing my name, Dr. Grey changed her attitude immediately with a small smile. "PJ Duncan, pleasure to meet you, I'm Dr. Ellis Grey," extending her hand, she continued.
I could see why House described her the way he did, obviously adding the touch that only House would, but the woman had a somewhat unpleasant attitude towards people she didn't see as worthy of her standards.
As I took the woman's hand in a firm grip, for a fraction of a second, I glimpsed a tiny cut scar on her wrist. The cut was specifically well made, seemingly done to leave no visible mark; it was certainly almost imperceptible to the eyes of a normal person, but having practiced with hundreds of people, I noticed it immediately.
"The pleasure is mine," pretending not to have seen the scar, I smiled kindly at the woman.
"You look much younger than I imagined, are you twenty?" Dr. Grey smiled, asking.
"No, actually, I'm sixteen," I replied, preparing for the questions I had already answered several times that day to other people.
"Sixteen and already with such incredible achievements, impressive," strangely contrary to her words, the woman didn't seem entirely surprised, simply raising one of her eyebrows slightly as she nodded.
"I've just studied for a long time," I admitted, still puzzled by how the woman had taken it. Being introduced to so many people, I had become accustomed to the reactions and subsequent questions.
"Yes, I can imagine," the woman said calmly, falling silent for a moment as she seemed to think about something.
"Did Richard come?" Dr. Glassman changed the topic abruptly, appropriating the conversation as he scanned the other people at the party.
"How would I know?" unconsciously touching her wrist, Dr. Grey, showing no emotion on her face, asked.
"Yes, how would you?" Dr. Glassman asked arrogantly, "and your husband Thatcher?" he asked again, smiling amused.
"Thatcher and I separated seven years ago when I came to Boston," still maintaining her expressionless face, Dr. Grey said, "he felt intimidated by my achievements," she explained with a touch of arrogance.
"It's a shame," rolling his eyes at the woman's arrogance, Dr. Glassman said, "and how's little Meredith, she's what, ten now?" he kept the conversation going.
"Twelve," Dr. Grey responded immediately, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Aaron, it was a great surprise to see you again, but I have to go to the restroom," Dr. Grey said quickly, still maintaining her expressionless face. "PJ, it was truly a pleasure to meet you; I hope we meet again sometime," she added with a small friendly smile before leaving.
"She couldn't wait to run away," Dr. Glassman laughed happily when Dr. Grey was far enough.
"She is..." I paused for a moment to find the right word.
"Special?" Dr. Glassman completed.
"Yeah, that," I said, remembering the horrible description House had given of the woman.
"Don't take it personally, Ellis Grey has been like that since her residency years," Dr. Glassman said calmly, recalling his past.
"Did you do your residency with her?" I asked intrigued, continuing the conversation.
"Oh yes," the man replied, "you have to understand, despite not being the most pleasant, Ellis's attitude has a reason behind it. When she started her surgery residency, the field was almost completely dominated by men," he continued, pointing to the people present at the party, the vast majority men, "in fact, it still is, although a little less pronounced than back then," he added with a hint of disappointment.
"So she had a lot to prove," I immediately understood what he meant.
"Yeah, of the twenty interns we were, she was the only woman, just like Richard, he was the only black man," he continued explaining, "it's just that now that she has proven herself, she makes sure nobody forgets it," Dr. Glassman continued, rolling his eyes again, amused.
"Well, I read that the Harper Avery is a big deal," I said, understanding a bit the reason behind the woman's arrogance.
"Oh, you have no idea," putting his hand on my shoulder, Dr. Glassman affirmed, amused. "Come on, let's go sit at our table; I'll introduce you to my wife."
At one of the tables with some empty seats, Dr. Glassman approached a woman who occupied one of the few occupied seats at the table, "PJ, this is my wife Ilana. Ilana, meet PJ Duncan," with a cheerful smile, Dr. Glassman said.
"Pleasure to meet you," shaking the woman's hand, I said before taking a seat in one of the empty chairs.
"PJ is a high school student who knows much more about medicine than many recent graduates," Dr. Glassman affirmed, introducing me to the other people at the table, once again starting what seemed to be more than a dozen times tonight, an interrogation about myself guided by the other people at the table.
The night continued, and the party ended with some words of thanks from Dr. Thomas and Dr. Murray. It was obvious that everyone at the event was of great importance to the two doctors.
Saying goodbye to the people I had met during the dinner event at Dr. Glassman's table, with more business cards filling my pocket, I left following the Thomases out of the hall.
"Ah, PJ, I missed you for the rest of the night," when I met Dr. Thomas again, the man said cheerfully, apparently a bit tipsy, "I hope the party wasn't too boring for you," he continued.
"Oh no, not at all, Doctor, thank you again for inviting me," feeling the large number of business cards in my pocket, I replied.
"I saw you were with Aaron; he's always been a good kid," Dottie said as she walked alongside Dr. Thomas.
"Yes, Dr. Glassman was very kind and invited me to his table."
"You had a place at our table, but I suppose Aaron learned a lot from Don," tapping her husband's shoulder lightly, Dottie continued, amused.
Outside the event hall, Frank was waiting, ready with the car running and the back door open.
After the two elderly people got into the back, I decided again to take the front seat, making sure to unbutton my jacket, I smiled at Frank, who, unlike his professional appearance, raised his fist for a cheerful fist bump, which I gladly returned.
At the Thomas' house, after helping Dottie get the slightly tipsy Dr. Thomas up the stairs, I headed to the guest room to do some bodyweight training again before taking a quick shower to sleep.
Early the next morning, with a few hours before my flight back home, as Dr. Thomas cheerfully prepared breakfast for the day, it being a day off for the household workers of the Thomas house.
Watching the older man flip pieces of bacon in a pan, while Dottie, with Dr. Thomas' help, told stories of the party guests, the doorbell of the house rang.
"I'll get it," cheerfully wiping his hands with a cloth he had with him, Dr. Thomas said before quickly leaving the kitchen. Surprisingly energetic for a person his age.
"Sundays are the days when his 'protégés' are always invited for breakfast; it's been a long time since we had anyone here," seeing her husband's joy, Dottie explained with a gentle smile.
"Look who's here, Dottie," entering the kitchen, Dr. Thomas said cheerfully before showing the guests, Dr. Grey with an obviously uncomfortable blonde girl.
"Ah, Ellis, it's been a while since you've been around," Dottie said cheerfully, getting up to greet her guests, "Meredith, look at you, I remember when we first met you, you were such a sweet little thing, and now you're a beautiful young lady," hugging the uncomfortable girl, who apparently didn't fully recognize the woman, Dottie continued.
"I've been a bit busy; I've been working on a new procedure for laparoscopic biliary reconstruction," with a small, almost imperceptible smile, Dr. Grey said, straightening her back with pride.
Laparoscopic surgeries were a very interesting topic that, as time goes on, will advance rapidly. It was increasingly surprising to me that in my past life, I had never heard of Dr. Grey; apparently, she was making impressive advances in her own field of surgery.
"No," raising one of her fingers, Dottie stopped Dr. Grey authoritatively, "I know you haven't been here for a long time, but remember my rules," the usually kind elderly woman continued, raising one of her eyebrows, "we won't talk about work until everyone has eaten."
"You're right, I'm sorry, Dottie," nodding, Dr. Grey said with a weak smile, "Meredith, come here," smiling slightly at me, the woman said, calling her daughter without even looking at her.
"This is PJ; he's sixteen and already making a name for himself in the medical field," taking her daughter by the shoulders, Dr. Grey said, facing her towards me, "you have to learn from his example; no matter your age, the least expected of you is to be extraordinary."
"Hi," feeling a bit awkward being used as an example, almost like an exhibit in a museum, I greeted the obviously uncomfortable girl with a smile.
"Hello," almost in a whisper, the girl responded, completely avoiding eye contact.
"Perfect, now that we all know each other, take a seat," guiding Dr. Grey, and therefore Meredith, to the table, Dr. Thomas said cheerfully.
"So, PJ, what are you focusing on in your studies, research?" still maintaining her slight smile, Dr. Grey asked immediately as we sat down.
"PJ is an excellent diagnostician," while cooking a few steps away from us, Dr. Thomas said again with a strange feeling of pride in his voice.
"Ah, really?" slightly widening her eyes, Dr. Grey asked, a bit surprised.
"I've been learning a lot from Dr. House in Texas," I explained, making Dr. Grey's expression change as if she had tasted a sour candy.
"Gregory House?" still with clear displeasure on her face, Dr. Grey asked, obviously House's feelings toward the woman are shared.
"Yes, Gregory 'discovered' him; in fact, through him was how I was able to get in touch with PJ," happily ignoring Dr. Grey's expression, Dr. Thomas said.
"I suppose Gregory is a good diagnostician," still with a bit of disdain on her face, Dr. Grey said, shaking her head with a bit of disdain.
"He's taught me a lot," I said, trying to end the awkward conversation.
"So, are you steering your future towards managing a diagnostic department?" apparently also ending the House topic, Dr. Grey asked, "I think that would be a waste of your intellect; you should be a surgeon," she continued.
"That's what I said," with a big smile, Dr. Thomas said as he held one of the pots, "oh, I wish you'd seen it, Ellis, PJ handled an emergency situation like a professional, and all much before even Dottie or I could even think to act."
"An emergency situation?" intrigued, Dr. Grey asked.
"Oh, it's nothing," I said, somewhat embarrassed by all the compliments.
"Nothing?" Dottie, who up until that moment had been trying to engage Meredith in more than a one-word conversation, asked surprised, "don't be modest, PJ, it was a very brave act, and you applied the technique with great expertise," she continued, "PJ saved the life of a man who was choking on poorly chewed food," Dottie explained.
"Quite impressive," placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder, Dr. Grey said, "you should definitely be a surgeon. How much time do you have left in high school?" she asked, interested.
"I'm in my freshman year," I replied.
"So, are you preparing for early graduation?" silently thanking Dr. Thomas, who served some breakfast on my plate, Dr. Grey asked again.
"Oh no, not at least for now. I want to enjoy what's left of my high school years before formally starting my studies," I explained while gratefully helping Dr. Thomas serve food onto my plate.
"What?" for the first time, something I said really took her by surprise.
"Yes, I don't want to rush my education entirely," I said, "although I 'study' with Dr. House and take some of my free time to make my small contribution to Dr. Thomas's research, I'm not really pressured to do so," I explained, somewhat embarrassed by the inconsistency of my words with my actions.
"I don't understand," incredulous, Dr. Grey said, furrowing her brow slightly.
"PJ wants to live his adolescence without many more responsibilities than someone his age would have," seizing the opportunity, Dottie explained kindly, smiling at me.
"Yes, I have many friends at school, I go to parties, do activities that are totally opposite to studying medicine. I like to think that I'm enjoying my life," I said calmly, focusing slightly on the still uncomfortable girl, surely it was difficult to live under the pressure of her mother's shadow, who was a leader in her field of work.
"And you're right," squeezing my arm, Dottie said cheerfully, "time passes too quickly not to enjoy it," she continued, smiling affectionately at her husband.
Judging by the expression on Dr. Grey's face, my possibly fanciful idea of enjoying my life seemed like nonsense, but Meredith, who was out of sight of her mother, smiled slightly, as a girl her age should.
"Oh wait, you're twelve, right?" remembering my siblings, I asked, making the girl nod. I remembered Dr. Grey's conversation with Dr. Glassman.
"My sister asked me to bring her clothes and shoes; I thought you might know where to buy something for her. She's only a year older than you," I quickly explained, imagining how my question might seem strange.
"Oh yeah," much more easily than any of her previous interactions, she responded, "you can go to Alloy, Delia's, five seven nine, Limited Too," she began listing cheerfully, "I can go with you if you want," the girl said with obvious interest.
"What a great idea, we can all go shopping before it's time to take PJ to the airport," Dottie said cheerfully.
"That sounds like a plan to me," with a big smile, Dr. Thomas said.
"Yeah, sure," completely swept away by the two elderly people, Dr. Grey had no choice but to respond, making her daughter's smile a little more present.
As breakfast continued, with a slight change of thought, Meredith, a little less inhibited, began to speak with longer sentences than just one word with Dottie, who had been trying to talk to the girl from the start.
As that happened, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Grey, with some questions and observations from me, caught up on matters that I was sure bordered on the line of the rule that Dottie had made clear before breakfast, about the life of the surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and some cases she had to deal with.
After breakfast, at Dottie's orders and apparently being part of the 'tradition' in the Thomas household, we all helped with the cleaning of the kitchen, some with the dishes while others took care of the surfaces, table, and floor, nothing really complicated.
My flight didn't leave for several hours, giving me enough time to go shopping for gifts, return, and have my luggage ready again, which thanks to Alfred basically just needed to be packed.
In Dr. Thomas' car, while the elderly man and I sat in the front with the three women of different ages in the back following the directions of the only one who knew where the stores were, Meredith, we arrived at a mall, one of the, according to the locals of the group, dozens of other shopping centers in the city.
Now I could understand my sister's 'disdain' for the stores at home. There was a clear difference between the mall in Medford and any other shopping center in Boston, not only in visible quality but also in size. Easily the Medford mall could fit two, possibly even three times inside the Boston mall.
Almost endless lines of cars were parked in the surprisingly large parking lot of the place, and despite that, many of the spots were empty, surely because it was Sunday or because of the large number of different shopping centers.
Following Meredith, who strangely, unlike her mother, who was lost in the place, seemed to know the place by heart, we visited several stores where the girl, along with Dottie, helped me choose some clothes that Teddy might like. My observational skills apparently had a limit in fashion; I generally remembered the type of clothes my sister used to wear on a daily basis, but I couldn't imagine her wearing any other kind of clothing.
"I think your sister might like this shirt," fortunately, Meredith, being practically the same age as Teddy, seemed to know at least a little more about what she might like.
After visiting a few stores, the Thomas couple didn't take long to feel tired. "We can stay in this café; you guys continue," in one of the mall's locales, Dr. Thomas said, pointing to a coffee shop.
"Meredith, I'll stay with the Thomas; you can go with PJ if you want. Here you go," taking money from her purse, Dr. Grey handed her daughter a couple of bills, "PJ, could you take care of Meredith?" the woman asked.
"Of course," I replied, having quite a bit of experience taking care of children Meredith's age. It could never be more complicated than with the Wilkerson kids.
The three adults entered the café, leaving Meredith and me alone.
"Well, it looks like it's just you and me now. Shall we go to the next store?" I asked the girl.
"Yeah," she replied happily.
Following the excited girl through the stores of her choice, buying most of the clothes she chose and helping her with her own bags, I noticed that away from her mother, she was like any other child her age.
Being several tens of dollars poorer and with a bunch of bags from different stores in my arms, I decided that it was enough for a gift for my teenage sister. "Now, do you know what your classmates, the kids, would like as a gift?" I asked as we took a break on one of the mall benches.
"Definitely video games; several of my classmates have this little box where they play during breaks," the girl replied seriously as she tried to mimic what she was saying with her hands.
"I know those," I said; House always had one with him.
"Yeah, I think they sell them at Best Buy," standing up with a small smile, Meredith said, urging me to walk.
"Welcome, do you need help?" upon entering the store, an employee, a thin and very tall teenager, approached to ask.
"Yes, I was wondering if you had this portable video game," describing with my hands the size of the small console, I said.
"Oh yeah, the Game Boy," nodding with a big smile, the employee said silently, indicating for us to follow him.
On one of the store shelves, small colorful boxes were organized, "these are the Game Boys, and there you have the cartridges," the employee said, pointing to another bunch of small square boxes.
"What? Apart from the Game Boy, do we have to buy other things?" I asked really intrigued; there was a small variety of games, each one costing upwards of twenty dollars, the same console cost almost a hundred dollars.
"Oh yes, the Game Boy is just a portable console; to play, you have to buy the games," the employee said, nodding slightly, "well, I'll be around; if you need anything else, don't hesitate to call me."
"Do you think this is 'cool'?" taking one of the small boxes, I asked Meredith, who nodded with a big smile.
"Okay, let's choose some games," approaching the other boxes, I said as I looked at the drawings on the front of each one.
"Hey, look at that, Batman," taking one of the small boxes with the symbol I remembered from one of Gabe's comics, I said, "Super Mario Land, looks cool," taking a couple more games mentally adding up the total almost reached two hundred dollars, in just a few small boxes.
I still had cash that Bob had withdrawn for me, but I didn't want to spend all the cash I had with me. Paying with a card, Meredith and I left the store, me carrying a new bag.
"I think that's it," I said, raising my arms with bags; I hoped that buying gifts wouldn't become some kind of tradition. In a few years, I would have to travel constantly again, and if this continues, I would have to think about always paying for extra luggage.
Remembering that I really had limited space inside the suitcase, discarding the pair of bags that belonged to my young companion, I had dozens of garments that possibly wouldn't fit inside the suitcase alongside my clothes. Even with the small volume of my brother's gift, it possibly wouldn't fit.
In one of the stores we passed on our way to Best Buy, I remembered they sold backpacks. Returning to the place, I bought one to use as carry-on luggage and with a little luck have enough space to carry everything back to Medford.
I also took the opportunity to buy small and not so expensive gifts for mom and Bob, a pair of earrings and a wallet respectively.
"You're extraordinary, aren't you?" Meredith asked seriously as we walked through the mall back to where the adults were probably having coffee.
"You flatter me, but if you truly believe it then it must be true," I replied arrogantly to the girl, smiling.
"No, I mean my mom says it," the embarrassed girl quickly clarified.
"It seems like your mom really likes that word," I said, nodding as I discreetly studied the girl's expression. She seemed to be having trouble expressing some concern. "Your mom has her own idea of what being extraordinary means," I continued, walking towards what I recognized as the same donut shop where I had shared a delicious chocolate milkshake with Kat several weeks ago.
"So, is she wrong?" Meredith asked, following me into the donut shop, joining a small line with a few people.
"Oh no," I replied after paying for two chocolate milkshakes. "I think there are many types of extraordinary," I continued.
"I don't understand," the girl said with a complicated expression, shaking her head.
"Yes, just on this trip alone, I met dozens of 'extraordinary' people, and I don't necessarily think they fit into what your mom considers extraordinary, but that doesn't mean she's wrong," I explained, receiving two delicious chocolate milkshakes with gratitude.
"But you saw her reaction when you said you wanted to enjoy your life, I think that's extraordinary, and she doesn't," Meredith said as we walked to one of the empty tables in the shop, enjoying her own milkshake. She seemed to not fully understand what I was trying to explain.
"Well, first of all, thank you for that. I also think that trying to enjoy life is something extraordinary," I said, smiling at the girl, teasing her, "your own definition of what is 'extraordinary' is as valid as mine or your mother's, or at least that's what I think."
"Here in Boston, I first met the Thomases, who, I don't know if you knew, but they made incredible advances in the history of medicine," I said. "Obviously, that's why they're extraordinary doctors," I explained, "but the way they treat other people, how quickly they make someone feel at home by inviting them to their home without any problem, basically treating them like family, that makes them extraordinary people."
"Then I met the owner of a restaurant who was extraordinarily shameless, he didn't mind shouting, hugging, or even kissing people he met for the first time, a quite liberating experience but one I couldn't replicate on my own," I continued, smiling at the slow realization on the girl's face as she began to understand what I was trying to explain.
"Then I met an extraordinary driver and an extraordinary butler who showed me more about etiquette and elegance in two days than I had learned in my entire life," I said, remembering Frank and Alfred.
"And today, of all things, I met an extraordinary girl who reminded me how extraordinary it is to enjoy life and who was kind enough to help me choose gifts for my siblings," I said, smiling amusedly at Meredith's embarrassment at my words.
"So yes, I believe 'extraordinary' has many definitions," I finished.
After finishing our milkshakes, Meredith, much later than me—I was starting to develop a problem with chocolate milkshakes—returned to where the Thomases and Dr. Grey had separated from us several minutes ago. Meredith seemed to still be thinking about everything I had told her.
Even on the way back to the Thomases' house, the girl seemed pensive as she chatted with Dottie, occasionally giving me looks that tried to be discreet but failed spectacularly. Having trained a lot in observation skills, it wasn't difficult to notice when someone was watching you.
When we arrived at the Thomases' house, the two Greys had to leave, as Dr. Grey had work to do. "PJ, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope to know more about you," Dr. Grey said formally, shaking my hand before leaving and saying goodbye to the Thomases in the same way.
Meredith, after hesitating for a few seconds, quickly hugged my torso. "Thank you," I heard her say before the girl separated and said goodbye to the Thomases as her mother had done, with Dottie dragging her into a hug immediately afterward.
"You're very good with kids," when Dr. Grey and Meredith left, Dottie strangely said, "whoever wins your heart will be a really lucky girl," lightly tapping my shoulder, the woman said proudly, leaving without allowing me to say anything.
"PJ, we have forty minutes before we have to go to the airport, and it looks like you have much more to pack. I recommend you start as soon as possible," seeing all the bags next to the backpack of things I bought, Dr. Thomas said, smiling amusedly.
With the suitcase forcibly closed and my backpack filled with everything that didn't fit in the suitcase, I was ready to return home.
Again with Dr. Thomas at the wheel, this time with Dottie in the front seat, we set off for the airport.
"You have to come for more days on your winter vacation, in fact, you should come with your whole family. I would love to meet your parents and siblings," outside the airport, after taking my belongings from the trunk of the Thomases' car, Dottie dragged me into a hug.
"That sounds like a great idea," returning the hug to the incredibly kind old lady, I said confidently, "thank you very much for allowing me to stay in your house."
"You're a great kid, don't let anything change that," pressing one of my cheeks, the woman said, "you'll always have open doors to my house," she continued with a big smile before stepping back to allow Dr
. Thomas to also say goodbye.
"PJ," stretching out his hand with a warm smile, Dr. Thomas said, "as Dottie said, you have to come again, obviously before you come to study full-time and we can spend much more time together," smiling proudly, the doctor continued.
"Thank you very much for inviting me, doctor," amused by the doctor's confidence in my medical school decision, I said, shaking the man's hand.
"Oh, none of that, it's your own efforts that got you here, my invitation was nothing more than my own interest in meeting such an impressive young man," affectionately patting my shoulder, the doctor replied, "now go in there before I change my mind and make you stay," the man continued sarcastically.
"Don't be silly," hitting her husband's shoulder, Dottie scolded him, "I wasn't lying, PJ, you have to come again on winter vacation, I'll arrange it with your parents," continuing to hug the same arm of her husband that she had hit a second ago, Dottie continued.
"I look forward to it," I replied, smiling at the couple who had kindly treated me like family in no more than three days of knowing me; it felt good.
After saying goodbye to the Thomases, the processes on the plane, like with my journey here, didn't take long. Fortunately, all my luggage passed without problems, and before boarding, I bought several small souvenirs from the city at one of the airport shops, and before I knew it, I was tens of thousands of feet in the air flying back home.
My flight, leaving earlier than the previous one, obviously arrived in Texas much earlier than before. After picking up my luggage from the conveyor belts, I walked to the airport reception.
"There he is," I heard Mom shout in her easily recognizable voice tone.
Several steps away from me, my siblings, along with Mom and Bob carrying a sign with my name followed by a big 'welcome,' were waiting with big smiles.
Teddy and Gabe, releasing the sign, ran towards where I was; this definitely felt good.
Dropping my suitcase, I prepared for a strong hug from my siblings.
It never came.
"Did you bring gifts?" passing by me in an impressive synchronization, Gabe and Teddy asked at the same time, ready to open my suitcase.
Impressed as well as amused by the scene, I could only burst out laughing, quickly grabbing my suitcase to prevent the two eager animals from tearing it apart looking for gifts.
"I missed you guys too," I ironically said, stepping away from the kids and walking towards the adults.
"You look so different, so mature," receiving the kind of welcome I expected, Mom said as she hugged me tightly.
"Yeah, it doesn't seem like you've been gone for just three days," smiling sarcastically, Bob said as he took my suitcase, "come on, we have to leave now to avoid the road getting dark," giving me a shoulder hug, Bob said, guiding me and Mom, who had started to tear up at some point, towards the exit, with Teddy and Gabe following closely.
During the car ride back to Medford in Bob's car, after being scolded by Mom, my siblings started asking all sorts of questions about the trip, the people I had met, and the places I had visited.
Much beyond knowing the mall and the incredibly fancy restaurant, I hadn't really visited many interesting places, so they quickly lost interest in my trip. Also, as a reprimand for their way of welcoming me, I avoided any questions related to gifts, surely making them think I had forgotten about them.
When we arrived home, after being seated for several hours, the first to get off the car and probably headed to the bathroom was Mom.
A few moments later, everyone else in the car followed her inside the house, stopping at the front door and seeing the inside, I saw Bob silently asking, "Your mother prepared a welcome party, the Coopers will be here in a few minutes," smiling slightly, Bob said.
"She remembers I was only gone for three days, right?" I asked.
"Just give her this," Bob chuckled, pushing me into the house.
Fortunately, at my 'welcome' party, only the Coopers attended from the people who were invited.
"I invited Dr. House, but unfortunately, he had to attend a consultation with Dr. Sterling," Mom said, and I didn't have the heart to explain to her that 'Dr. Sterling' was a character from House's favorite soap opera.
"He's been like this since he found out the reason you went to Boston; I still don't fully understand it, but you should do it more often," after dinner, pointing to her younger brother Georgie, she said amusedly.
Sheldon, with a deeply furrowed brow, was methodically chewing his food. I hadn't had time to talk to the kid because with the arrival of the new adults, I narrated my trip to Boston again during dinner.
"Are you okay, Sheldon?" I asked worriedly.
"For now, you're way ahead, but someday I'll win the Nobel Prize in Physics, and obviously, it's better than the one in medicine, like peace and literature, anyone can win those," with disdain, the boy said, although I could really tell he was hurt; after all, he was still a child.
"I'm sure you will, Sheldon," I replied. Obviously, the kid knew what the Nobel was, and because of the 'competition' we had now, he felt very far behind.
"It's time for PJ's surprise," when everyone, except Sheldon, who took a long time to chew his food, finished their dinners, Mom said with a big smile as she stood up, "close your eyes," she ordered me seriously.
Following the pregnant woman's indication, I covered my eyes, really surprised as I didn't expect a welcome gift from my three-day trip. Feeling something being placed in front of me on the table, I waited until I was allowed to open my eyes again.
"You can open them," excitedly, Mom said.
A framed piece of paper was in front of me. "Local hero. A prodigy in medicine, by David Wallace," I read on what I immediately recognized as an article from a newspaper.
The flash of some kind of camera that my mom has holding pulled me out of a small trance.
"What?"
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Author Thoughts:
As always, I'm not American, not a doctor, and not a fighter.
Extraordinary.
So, a new character has been added to a TV show, who is it?
Here, someone might find a discrepancy with the way I portrayed Meredith Grey in her childhood. Apart from what I know (I haven't watched the entire series, I'm approximately in season 12), which is when she was a very young 5-year-old, there are no other comments about her character at that age until she talks about her adolescence, when she was 15+ years old, wearing a lot of black and having her hair dyed pink.
Personally, I like the way I approach the character in her childhood and pre-adolescence, which is how I imagine a person with as many traumas as Meredith Grey to be. As we progress in the story, I will try to organically evolve her character into what she is in the series.
The same goes for the character of Ellis Grey. Apart from what is known about the character, during the flashback episodes and what other characters, as well as herself, say about her and her past, is what I think is more accurate to what her character could be at that time.
Another chapter has passed, so new thanks are in order. I would like to especially thank:
keyakedo
RandomPasserby96
11332223
With that said,
I think that's all. As always, if you find any errors, please let me know, and I'll correct them immediately.
Thank you for reading! :D
PS: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW.
